PlantwisePlus Blog

In India’s Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh, plant health training with CABI Academy is playing a vital role in strengthening agricultural practices and supporting extension professionals. 

“Our job revolves around helping others learn,” M. Bhaskaraiah explains. “We support farmers and extension functionaries through training, mentoring, and hands-on field visits. It’s about sharing knowledge that can directly improve crop health and yield.” 

Tirupati District is situated in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A semi-arid region, Tirupati’s farmers face a range of plant health challenges due to crop pests and diseases. Typical issues include fall armyworm, brown plant hopper, wilt diseases and blast in rice. These problems underscore the need for accessible, up-to-date plant health advice that enables farmers to manage crop threats effectively and sustainably.  

Addressing agricultural challenges 

M. Bhaskaraiah’s team supports farmers with guidance on plant protection, diagnostics, soil health, crop nutrition, and integrated pest management (IPM). The information and advice disseminated by the team can determine whether a farmer’s crop thrives or fails. 

“Crop health management is our core concern,” M. Bhaskaraiah says. “And that includes everything from identifying diseases and pests to making sure the soil is balanced and productive.” 

Discovering CABI Academy 

In 2023, M. Bhaskaraiah attended a training session, which introduced him to CABI’s online learning platform, CABI Academy. He quickly saw how it could enhance the training he provides. “I first heard about the CABI Academy during an online training session by NIPHM on pest surveillance,” he recalls. “Mrs. Manjari Madhu, a CABI Digital Tools Coordinator for South Asia, was a resource person, and that session sparked my interest.” 

Following the training, M. Bhaskaraiah began to explore the online courses available on CABI Academy and how they could strengthen the capacity of his advisory team. He soon saw the value it could bring to his work. “The courses are flexible, user-friendly, and full of practical visuals. The evaluation methods are straightforward, and the topics—like plant diagnostics, nutrient management, and pesticide safety—are exactly what we need.” 

Putting knowledge into practice 

Since that initial training, his experience with CABI Academy has grown significantly. “We supported three Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes in Andhra Pradesh in 2024,” he shares. “More than 180 officials were trained using CABI resources.” 

The Academy’s content is now a key component of his training sessions. “I use it to teach our farmers and extension workers how to diagnose plant health problems, apply proper management strategies, and adopt IPM practices. The goal is higher income at the lowest possible cost.” 

What makes CABI Academy so effective for M. Bhaskaraiah is its relevance to his existing training methods. “The content is clear, well-illustrated, and easy to use. I’ve found it incredibly empowering—not just for me, but for my trainees too.” 

Positive impact and feedback 

Feedback from trainees has been overwhelmingly positive. “There’s been a very good response from everyone I’ve trained. And personally, my own knowledge and confidence have grown significantly.” 

M. Bhaskaraiah has trained more than 1,000 farmers and officials using the CABI Academy. Moreover, he has created training books based on his learnings from the course. “These are now reference materials I use regularly in our capacity-building programmes.” 

Looking ahead

Although retirement is on the horizon, M. Bhaskaraiah still plans to support his local farming community. “After I retire, I want to continue supporting farmers—using the Plant Clinic approach and CABI’s digital tools to provide them with the right advice.” 

M. Bhaskaraiah experiences with CABI Academy show how digital learning can become more than an educational resource. CABI Academy supports institutions in building the skills and confidence of plant health professionals at various levels of the plant health system. For professionals such as M. Bhaskaraiah, the impact is clear: better-supported farmers, stronger extension services, and a more resilient plant health system. 

Further reading

CABI Academy supports Vietnamese universities in training the next generation of plant health professionals

PlantwisePlus gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Directorate-General for International Cooperation, Netherlands (DGIS); European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA); UK International Development from the UK government; and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).